DorothyGradyAlphin, 87, of the Bethel Church community near Mount Olive, passed from this life into life eternal on Wednesday evening, January 16, 2013. Death came while she was in the comfort of the place she had called home since 1946.

Funeral services to celebrate Mrs. Alphin and the wonderful, Christian life that she lived will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, at Tyndall Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Wanda Simmons, and followed by interment in Maplewood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, January 18, from 6 until 8 p.m., and at other times at the residence.

Daughter of the late Ben and Cora Bennett Grady, she graduated from B.F. Grady High School in 1942, and then attended Louisburg College for a year, obtaining business education certification. She had been married to Lewis Garland Alphin for 46 years prior to his death in 1991.

"Mrs. Dorothy," as she was most commonly called by friends and neighbors, was a life-long member of Bethel United Methodist Church in which she served faithfully and diligently. She was awarded a life membership in the United Methodist Women and with it, had been active on the local, sub-district, and district levels. In earlier years, she had been a leader in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at the church and had served as church pianist and sang in the choir. She had been a special correspondent to the Mount Olive Tribune for over 50 years, contributing weekly the "Bethel News Items," which she began to pen in 1943. Known for her benevolent nature with the community, "Mrs. Dorothy" was instrumental, along with her husband and a neighborhood gentleman, in the founding of the Oak Ridge Area Senior Citizens group which met on a regular basis until just a few years ago.

While in time past she had worked at Smith Hardware in Goldsboro, at Village Decorating Center and at Tiny-Tot Nursery, both in Mount Olive, her primary interest was being a farm wife, mother, and grandmother, and being the best neighbor that she could be. She had been the taxlister for Duplin's Wolfescrape Township for decades, and had also been a census taker. Too, she had worked for several years on a part-time basis at Duplin County Tax Office. Her kind and caring nature caused her to send out thousands of greeting cards through the years, and always enclosed within would be a recent church bulletin as well as a clipping of a meditation or verse for the recipient to ponder.

Mrs. Alphin is survived by her children and their spouses, Janice A. and Douglas Powell of Lillington, Jack and Hilda T. Alphin of Mount Olive, and Sharon and Jack "Buddy" Collins of Raleigh; her grandchildren, Al and Rachele Powell of Granite Falls, Troy and Charla Powell of Summerville, SC, Heather A. and Scott Ingram of Goldsboro, Meredith A. and Murray McClenny of Mount Olive, Lewis Alphin of Mount Olive, B. J. and Amber Collins of Raleigh, Matthew Collins of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Jack Collins III of Raleigh; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters, Laura Ruth G. Haskins of Trenton, and Eva G. Barwick of Seven Springs; and several nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

The Alphin family also wishes to acknowledge with gratefulness these caregivers whose love, devotion, and care have allowed Mrs. Alphin to remain at home during the period of her confinement: Annie Ruth Boyette, Lynn Lee, "Lady" Jones Ezzell, and Lettie Thigpen.

While floral tributes are welcome, the family has requested that memorial gifts be made to Dorothy G. Alphin Scholarship, James Sprunt Community College, PO Box 398, Kenansville, NC 28349.

DVD

Memories & Candles

My thoughts and prayers are with all the family. Mrs. Dorothy was such a sweet person.

Posted by: yvonne Tillman - Calypso, NC - Friend Jan 23, 2013

Janice, Jackie, Sharon & families, so sorry for your loss. Aunt Dorothy was very special to me and our family. When grandmama passed, I felt that she took responsibility for us! She did so much for grandpa and for all of us. I have posted many clippings she sent to me in a card on my refrigerator!! She was a very loving and special person and we all loved her. She will be missed so much. Prayers and love for all of her family.

Posted by: Barbara Tyndall - Wilmington, NC Jan 19, 2013

Thinking of Mrs. Dorothy's family and friends, praying for their peace as they mourn the loss of this dear, strong woman.

Barbara

Posted by: Barbara Sorensen - Raleigh, NC - colleague Jan 18, 2013

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Miss Dorothy was a Southern Lady in every sense of her life . She was gentle , kind, thoughtful, and very caring . When I sick she brought me flowers from her garden. I believe God has told her "Well done my good and faithful servant". God Bless her family !